Tree removals deeply upset some residents

Some residents have expressed their anger at the removal of a number of very old lime trees on a site at the Dublin end of the town, near the bridge.

While the council insist they felled the trees for safety reasons on the advice of experts, Paddy O’Reilly, who lives at Main Street, told the Celt there is a lot of concern over the events of February 22 and 23.

“Only for COVID-19, an active committee would have been formed in relation to this issue,” said Paddy. “This was a desecration of these old trees, which formed part of the old world charm on that entrance to the town.

“That line of trees inside that stone wall was always something the people of Virginia appreciated and loved and they were all cleared without any warning.”

He claims there was no mention “at any stage” the trees would be moved to facilitate traffic calming measures.

“We had been under the impression the trees would be left in place and the footpath and wall would run behind the line of trees, leaving them intact. If we had known the trees were going to be felled, it just would not have been entertained,” he added.

“I know people in the town who have not slept since the trees disappeared – it has really upset people, as if people were not upset enough with everything that is going on in the country with the lockdown. I am devastated myself,” said Paddy.

In a statement released to this paper, the council explained that tree experts had advised the trees were in danger of falling.

Paddy doesn’t accept the reason given for tree felling.

“There is never an effort made to save a tree,” he says.

“It is just cut it down – there is a thing called tree management. What happened seems completely unnecessary and I call on the Council to explain why they deemed it necessary to remove the trees.”

The County Council responded to the Celt, outlining that, due to the “dangerous condition” of the wall, which abuts the public footpath, they commissioned a consulting engineers’ report in November 2020. This report advised the replacement of the wall. A spokesperson explained: “The report also recommended the removal of the existing trees due to the proximity of their roots to the wall foundation. Cavan County were also advised by tree surgeons engaged that the large lime trees were near the end of their life span and that their root system was very weak, and they “were in imminent danger of falling.

“With the trees now removed as per above recommendations, Cavan County Council will now proceed to replace the dangerous wall and, having acquired the necessary land, take the opportunity to widen the existing narrow footpath from one metre width to 2.50 metres by erecting the new wall further away from the roadway.

“These works will greatly enhance public safety at this location.”